Teens charged in Mountain Lake arson

January 14, 2014

LAKE PLACID - A pair of students at Mountain Lake Children's Residence are facing arson, conspiracy and other charges following an incident Sunday night.

State police said they were called to the River Road boarding school for troubled boys and young men at 7:45 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of an arson. The Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department also responded after a fire alarm was activated, but firefighters were called off before they arrived at the scene.

Police said a 14-year-old boy from Greenwich and a 16-year-old boy from Lido Beach set off smoke bombs and burned a portion of a carpet inside the academy. The two also fought with staff members who tried to intervene, police said.

Police did not release the name of the 14-year-old since he is considered a juvenile. They did release the 16-year-old's name, but the Enterprise does not publish the names of criminal defendants under the age of 18.

The 14-year-old was charged with a pair of felonies: second-degree arson and fourth-degree conspiracy, and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. He was remanded to the Capital District Secure Juvenile Facility in Albany.

The 16-year-old was charged with second-degree arson, fourth-degree conspiracy, third-degree assault, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of fireworks. He was remanded to the Essex County Jail in Lewis in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.